RELEASE: New Bronx Affordable and Supportive Development Receives Community Board Approval

JANUARY 23, 2018, NEW YORK—Bronx Community Board 7unanimously approved a letter of support for “Villa House,” an affordable and supportive housing development by The Doe Fund. The approval, granted on January 16, 2018, marks an important milestone in the development of the residence which will be reserved for extremely low-income individuals and families. The project is expected to be completed in spring 2020.

Located at 3188 Villa Avenue in the Bedford Park section of the Bronx, the ten-story, 41,851 square foot building will include 60 studio apartments and 8 one-bedroom apartments. 41 units will be reserved for formerly homeless individuals with chronic conditions, and 27 units will be reserved for seniors currently on the NYCHA wait list. Amenities will include a community room, garden, on-site laundry facilities, bike room, and 24-hour professionally staffed security.

The Doe Fund’s Founder and President George McDonald said, “When our citizens flourish, our communities thrive. Thanks to the tremendous support from Bronx Community Board 7, we are moving quickly to provide more affordable housing in the Bronx and deliver a better quality of life to New Yorkers in need.”

The project has a NY/NY III services contract from a division of the New York City Human Resources Administration, which will enable The Doe Fund to provide onsite services including comprehensive case management, linkages to health care, and other services as needed such as job preparedness, employment training, and drug/alcohol prevention services.

The Doe Fund received a 9% Tax Credit Reservation Award by the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) for Villa House. The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) has pledged Section 8 Project-Based Vouchers for the entire project. Capital funding closing is expected in March 2018.

Delacour, Ferrara & Church Architects is the project’s architectural firm.